In a much-anticipated update, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released the admission schedule for All-India Quota (AIQ) and state-level medical postgraduate (PG) seats, bringing relief to candidates awaiting guidance on this year’s process. The schedule, published on Friday, outlines key dates and timelines for both AIQ and state rounds, marking an important step in the 2024 medical PG admissions.
State-Level Admissions
As per the new schedule, the seat matrix will be available on November 7. Following this, candidates will have a 10-day window to select and rank their preferred colleges. The longer choice-filling period has raised some eyebrows among candidates, with some questioning the necessity of a full 10 days, speculating that it could be tied to ongoing legal proceedings. In line with tradition, state-level admissions will commence shortly after the AIQ rounds, with most states expected to begin their processes on November 18. The simultaneous release of the admission schedule and the upcoming Supreme Court (SC) hearing has led some candidates to suggest that the 10-day choice-filling period might be an attempt to delay admissions while awaiting SC clarification on NEET-PG scores.
Supreme Court Case
The Supreme Court is currently hearing a case raised by candidates regarding the transparency of NEET-PG results. Unlike previous years, this year’s results displayed only direct ranks without showing raw scores, which led many candidates to feel the process was opaque and potentially unfair. Candidates believe that knowing raw scores is essential for ensuring a transparent admission process.
Complications in State Merit Rank
This year’s delay in admissions has also been attributed to challenges in calculating State Merit Ranks (SMR). Some states, like Maharashtra, offer extra points for in-service doctors in NEET-PG scores, which usually factor into state merit rankings. Without raw scores, however, state authorities have faced difficulties in preparing accurate SMRs, contributing to the hold-up in the admission process. Earlier this week, the National Medical Council (NMC) announced that the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) would assist state counseling bodies in preparing SMRs. This update allowed the MCC to release the official admission schedule soon afterward.
Parents' Question
Parent have raised concerns over the extended 10-day choice-filling period, pointing out that candidates rarely need such an extended timeframe, especially when registration is already underway. They have also noted that while the first round allows 10 days for choice filling, subsequent rounds traditionally offer only five days for this step, making the extended period seem excessive. With the admission schedule now in place and the Supreme Court hearing approaching, candidates and their families are hopeful that the process will continue smoothly. However, they remain cautious, aware that the SC’s ruling could impact the ongoing admission process. For now, they await clarity, trusting that transparency and fairness will be maintained as the admission rounds progress.
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